Falmouth Arts Centre, The Poly, Needs Support

On the 6 January 2010, the Arts Centre side of the Poly in Falmouth shut its doors. It went into receivership. No more films, live events or music at least for the time being. The main charity, the Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society carries on for the moment showing the work of UCF students in its galleries but that’s about all.

Within 24 hours of the closure, a Facebook ‘’Save our Poly’’ site started up which now numbers 5300 people and some 1600 other people have signed the online petition at www.saveourpoly.co.uk and there are ongoing petition signings in the high street. In the meantime, the RCPS will be holding a series of meetings – there will be a Members only Evening on Tuesday 16 March when there will be an opportunity to discuss the future. This will be followed sometime in April by a Spring Conference open to a wide number of people including potential partners and then the AGM on Tuesday 18 May.

The Creditors report on the liquidation shows that the Poly alone lost over £268,000 and that £375,000 was the total loss, much of that being borne by local traders. This level of loss is astounding and one questions as to how it was allowed to happen, what financial controls were in place and who was in charge of it?

There is a wealth of support in the idea of a rebirth of the Poly (over 2000 in the first 24 hours alone) showing art films, theatre, live events and music once again but this can only happen with your support and with the right team in place who have the necessary skills.

By becoming members of the RCPS we can voice our concerns to the Board. Membership entitles members to, 'Participation in the running of the Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society by attending the AGM, to electing members to the Board and serving on committees.' No matter what happens in the short term, being Members is the most effective way of achieving sustainable change for the future.

We want to elect enough Members to the Poly Board to be able to influence and sustain a rebirth of the Arts Centre by incorporating a *CIC company to revive the Arts Centre once again, leaving the Poly itself to carry on with its main charitable aims.